Chapter 8: Close Encounter

Seraphina continued to pester others, she turned to Evelyn, lifting her glass again. "Come and toast!"

Evelyn raised her glass without much enthusiasm, clinking it against Seraphina's.

Across the table, Hillary barely spared Seraphina a glance before looking away as if indulging her one last time–after all, after tonight, her role was as good as sealed.

Liliana leaned back in her seat, legs crossed and her finger idly running along the rim of her empty glass, her gaze swept across the room.

The champagne buzzed pleasantly in their veins. a warmth spreading through her that was both unfamiliar and strangely liberating.

The air smelled of liquor and expensive perfume, laughter mixing with the heavy bass music from the bar below.

The night was still long.

She set her glass down and rose to her feet. "I need some air."

Evelyn, still clear-headed, glanced at her flushed face and gave a small nod. "Go on."

Liliana merely hummed in response before stepping out of the private lounge.

She navigated the hallways, her steps less steady than usual.

The corridor was unexpectedly quiet, insulated from the chaos inside. The contrast was almost disorienting. She leaned slightly against the wall, her fingers brushing over her wrist as if grounding herself. Her eyes, momentarily hazy, cleared as she exhaled.

Two guests, passing by, slowed their steps when they took notice of her, their voices hushed yet audible.

"Who is she?" One whispered, a mixture of curiosity and veiled desire. "I haven't seen her before."

"Don't even think about it," the other warned, his tone firm. "You can tell, she's not someone like us can afford to trifle with."

Liliana, overhearing their whispers, met their gaze with a cool indifference before continuing her way.

The dim lighting in the corridor cast long shadows, obscuring the details. A group of men approached, their figure barely discernable in the gloom.

Liliana noticed the imposing figure at the front, his sharp features, and confident stride radiating authority, the presence was unmistakable.

A sharp and untouchable facade. Dark, commanding eyes. The bodyguard in black followed in formation, a silent wall of supremacy.

Liliana subconsciously moved to the side, intending to let them pass. But before she could react, a firm hand grasped her wrist, pulling her back.

The scent of faint tobacco and something darker, more indulgent, drifted over her.

Her gaze lifted, meeting a familiar pair of sharp, amused eyes.

A familiar stranger...

His lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. "What a coincidence."

Liliana took two steps back, her fingers flexed slightly before she tugged her hand free, smooth and unrushed.

"Indeed,"

She met his gaze with a soft little smile. "What a coincidence."

Nolan let her go, but only for a moment. 

As she stepped back, he followed, guiding her towards a darkened alcove.

Liliana felt her back pressed against the cool wall.

His stare lingered, sharp with curiosity, the faintest trace of amusement brushing his lips.

"How have you been?" He asked casually, like acquaintances engaging in polite conversation.

Liliana lifted her chin, her lashes fluttering slightly. "Not bad."

He stepped closer, his body heat radiating against her. 

Liliana's eyes darted toward the bodyguard who had already respectfully turned away, granting their leader privacy.

She could feel the heat of his touch as he pulled her closer, his fingers circling her waist.

Her gaze locked with his. Her hands slid up his chest, one resting on his shoulder, the other tracing the line of his neck, making the movement intimately slow.

Nolan let her do as she pleased, his gaze darkening as he felt her warmth against him.

"Have a girlfriend?" She asked in a soft whisper.

The sudden shift in the topic didn't faze him. "No."

"That's pleasant," she murmured, her fingers reaching up to lightly tug on his tie, wrapping around the silk, pulling his face closer to hers, just enough to let their lips hover an inch apart.

One second. Two.

She didn't move further.

Instead, her lips curved in a faint, knowing smile.

"Guess what I'm about to do next?"

Their breaths mingled, tension crackling between them.

Nolan's gaze flickered down to her lips, then back up. in a low murmur. "What?"

Liliana didn't answer.

She simply leaned in closing the distance, pressing her soft, cherry lips against his.

A slow, fleeting kiss–just enough to feel, to tempt.

Liliana smiled against his lips before pulling away, leaving a lingering presence.

Nolan's eyes narrowed dangerously, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.

She only tilted her head, fingers idly brushing the lapel of his coat as she smiled sweetly. "Do you have time?" she murmured, the question draped in something both innocent and seductive.

Nolan let out a low chuckle, his lips curling as he glanced at the head of his bodyguard. A single, subtle glance was all it took. The man gave a curt nod before stepping back, clearing the space.

What happened next was only natural.

The faintly illuminated room carried an intoxicating warmth, the distant bass from the lounge humming beneath them.

Liliana's fingers trailed lightly against him, guiding him down as she subtly pushed him onto the nearby bed. His powerful hands found her waist, steadying as their lips met again.

His grip tightened, fingers molding to the curve of her body, pulling her into him. His fingers pressed lightly against her skin as he deepened the kiss.

There was no need to rush.

The taste of whiskey lingered on his lips, laced with something richer and darker. A hint of tobacco, a quiet danger.

Liliana barely noticed when she slipped his long black overcoat off his shoulders, letting it slide off easily, her hands working with instinct rather than thought.

Their position shifted. Nolan leaned back slightly supporting himself with one arm, letting her take her place. She straddled him, unhurried and comfortable as if she belonged there.

Then, without warning, he turned her sideways, reversing their positions.

Liliana barely had time to react before her back met the sheets, her senses were filled with him—his warmth, scent, and the weight of his presence.

His kisses grew heavier, more dominant. His lips traced a slow path down her neck. 

Liliana's breath hitched. Her head tilted back, hair spilling onto the white sheets like scattered ink.

Just as his lips brushed against her collarbone, a faint vibration broke the stillness.

Liliana's phone screen lit up, vibrating insistently somewhere beneath the tangled sheets.